Erica Martinez Home Run Lifts Iowa State Past Sacramento State

POWAY, Calif. - Erica Martinez was 3-of-4 with four RBI, including one home run, as the Iowa State softball team improved its record to 2-3 by defeating Sacramento State 7-5 today at the San Diego State tournament.

The Cyclones got on the board first, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Amberly Lessenger singled to center field and advanced to second on a Kelly Wardein single. Martinez homered to give the Cyclones a 3-0 lead.

Iowa State added three more runs in the top of the second. Kimi Yoshizawa singled to left field and advanced to second on a Lessenger single. A Wardein RBI single scored Yoshizawa to give ISU a 4-0 lead. Lauren Cathy singled left center and advanced to second on an error by Hornet center fielder Cathy Coupar. Lessenger and Wardein scored on the error to give the Cyclones a 6-0 lead.

Sacramento State scored two runs in the bottom of the second. Coupar singled to second base and advanced to third on a bunt by Amber Dragomir. A sacrifice hit by Lori Meixner advanced Coupar to third and Dragomir to second. Coupar scored on a Volanda Estrada sacrifice fly to center field. Dragomir scored on an error by Cyclone hurler Kristin Ferguson to make it a 6-2 ballgame.

The Hornets added another run in the bottom of the third. Jillian Bivert reached on an error by ISU shortstop Morgan LeCluyse. Bivert stole second and advanced to third on a single by Patty Villa. Coupar reached on an error by LeCluyse, advancing Villa to second and scoring Bivert to cut the lead to 6-3.

The Cyclones scored again in the top of the sixth. Adi Blackmon reached on an error by Sacramento State third baseman Mary Villalpanda and advanced to second. Lessenger grounded out, advancing Blackmon to third. A Martinez single to center field scored Blackmon to give Iowa State a 7-3 lead.

Sacramento State's rally in the bottom of the seventh came up short as the Hornets could only score two runs to cut the lead to 7-5. Veronica Rodrigues walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second on an Arlette Sunseri single. Bivert reached first on a fielder's choice, advancing Sunseri to second as Rodrigues was out at third. Coupar singled to left field as Sunseri and Bivert scored on errors by Cyclone left fielder Kristin Shipley.

Ferguson (1-0) recorded the win for the Cyclones, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out two. Wardein was three-of-four at the plate with two runs and one RBI. Cathy had one hit and one RBI. Lessenger had two hits, while Laura Browning, Blackmon, LeCluyse, Ogan and Yoshizawa each contributed a hit.

Iowa State returns to action on Friday when it travels to Las Cruces, N.M., to compete at the New Mexico State tournament.